Beyond the Deepening Shadow: The Tower Remembers

Commissioned and produced by Historic Royal Palaces, by Designer Tom Piper and Sound Artist Mira Calix

Commissioned and produced by Historic Royal Palaces, by Designer Tom Piper and Sound Artist Mira Calix

Historic Royal Palaces to stage an epic light and sound display at the Tower of London to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War

This November, as the nation commemorates the centenary of the end of the First World War, a new installation at the Tower of London, Beyond the Deepening Shadow: The Tower Remembers, will fill the moat with thousands of individual flames; a public act of remembrance for the lives of the fallen, honouring their sacrifice. The installation will run from 4 – 11 November, for seven nights before, and on Armistice Day 2018.

Beyond the Deepening Shadow is an evolving installation, which will unfold each evening over the course of four hours, with the Tower moat gradually illuminated by individual flames. The unfolding visual spectacle will be accompanied by a specially-commissioned sound installation; a sonic exploration of the shifting tide of political alliances, friendship, love and loss in war. At the centre of the sound installation lies a new choral work, with words from war poet Mary Borden’s Sonnets to a Soldier.

Beyond the Deepening Shadow will begin with a procession led by the Yeoman Warders of the Tower of London. Emerging from the fortress, the Yeoman Warders – themselves all distinguished former servicemen and women – will ceremonially light the first flame. In a moving ritual, a select team of volunteers will then proceed to light the rest of the installation, gradually creating a circle of light, radiating from the Tower as a powerful symbol of remembrance. The display will conclude at 9pm every evening.

Members of the public are invited to the Tower of London to see the installation evolve each night, and to join in this public act of commemoration. The installation will be free to view from Tower Hill and the Tower concourse. Special ticketed access will also be provided to the Moat itself, for members of the public to experience the intimate and sensory sound installation and to see Beyond the Deepening Shadow up-close.

General, the Lord Houghton, Constable of HM Tower of London, said:

“The First World War claimed the lives of over 18 million people across the globe. We remembered them at the Tower on the anniversary of the start of the war, and it feels equally appropriate that we should again commemorate their sacrifice 100 years after hostilities came to an end.

Many of the Tower community have served in the Armed Forces, and it is important for us to ensure that those who lived, served, fought and died during this time continue to be remembered, and that the lessons from these conflicts continue to be shared.”

John Barnes, Chief Executive, Historic Royal Palaces, said:

“Beyond the Deepening Shadow is a fitting way to draw our centenary commemorations of the First World War to a close: transforming the moat into a circle of flames around the Tower, a powerful symbol of light in darkness.

It will be a beautiful spectacle and we hope that, as in 2014, the public will come to the Tower to find a shared space for reflection on the sacrifices of the fallen.”

The project has been supported by the City of London Corporation, the Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust, the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers, and a number of livery companies and other generous donors.

Notes to editors

For further information and images please contact the Historic Royal Palaces Press Office: press@hrp.org.uk or telephone: 0203 166 6166.

Historic Royal Palaces is the independent charity that looks after the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, the Banqueting House, Kensington Palace, Kew Palace and Hillsborough Castle. We help everyone explore the story of how monarchs and people have shaped society, in some of the greatest palaces ever built. We raise all our own funds and depend on the support of our visitors, members, donors, sponsors and volunteers. With the exception of Hillsborough Castle, these palaces are owned by The Queen on behalf of the nation, and we manage them for the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Historic Royal Palaces cares for Hillsborough Castle under a separate contract with the Northern Ireland Office. Registered charity number 1068852. For more information visit www.hrp.org.uk